Statistical machine



March 3l, 1953 A THOMAS ET AL 2,633,239

STATISTICAL l\/IAC{II\E A Filed Jan. l5, 1951 BYJLLLJ A Harney Patented Mar. 31, 1953 UNITED STATES PAT-ENT OFFICE STATISTICAL MACHINE Application January 13, 1951, Serial No. 205,841 In Great Britain February 2, 1950 Claims.

This invention relates to statistical machines and in particular to apparatus arranged to receive record cards delivered in succession from such machines.

In a statistical machine record cards are fed through the `machine in succession after being fed from a magazine and are delivered from the machine into receivers, usually into the open top of a receiver. In some instances it may .be desired to displace one or more cards with relation to the other cards contained in the receiver in order to direct the attention of the machine attendant thereto.

O-ne example of an occasion when cards may be required to be displaced in the manner just described is when the statistical machine is a comparing machine in which pairs of cards are compared to determine whether certain information contained in each of the cards of a pair is identical. After the cards of the pair have been sensed they are delivered to different card receivers and should it happen that disagreement is found between the cards it is desired that each of the cards be examined to determine which of the cards is in error. To this end the cards, when delivered to their respective receivers, may be displaced with respect to the remaining cards in the receiver in order that at the end of the run the stacks of cards may be taken from the two receivers and those cardsV which are displaced can be taken therefrom and examined.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism for displacing cards in a receiver on receipt of a signal that a particular card is to be so displaced.

According to the invention there is provided in a statistical machine, apparatus to receive record cards delivered in succession from the machine, said apparatus comprising a card receiver to receive` cards delivered intov the top thereof, movable means to impede the trailing end of each card delivered to the receiver and retain the card in tilted position about its leading edge for a predetermined interval, card displacing means to engage and move a tilted card transversely of its direction of movement to the receiver, actuating means for said card displacing means, said actuating means including a normally active coupling and a trip member controlled by a function of the machine to render the coupling inactive and thereby prevent operation of the card displacing means, and means operable in timed relation withv said actuating means to elfect movement of said movable means Z to a non-impeding position so that a tilted card is permitted to fall on to other cards in the receiver.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood an embodiment thereof will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a pictorial illustration of apparatus according to the invention, and

Figure 2 is a detail of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 with the parts in positions different from those which they occupy in Figure 1.

The apparatus about to be described is intended for use with a machine for comparing record cards, the record cards being fed in pairs, one from each of two magazines, to two sensing devices which sense the record cards and transmit impulses representative of the sensed data to a comparing mechanism adapted to determine identity or lack of identity of the data contained in the pair of cards. The general arrangement of the sensing mechanism is preferably similar to that described in British specification No. 2,772/50 and the comparing apparatus is preferably that described in British specication No. 2,770/50.

After sensing the cards fed from the two sensing devices are fed in knownV manner to separate card receivers but in the succeeding description only the mechanism associated with one card receiver will be described in detail as the card displacing mechanism is the same for both receivers and is simultaneously actuated by mechanism hereinafter described. No description of the comparing mechanism is contained herein as this mechanism forms no part of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, cards issuing from the comparing machine are delivered by rollers, not shown; in the usual manner into the top of a card receiver l, the first card delivered into the receiver being received ona platform 2 supported on an axially movable stem 3 against the action of a spring 4 in well known manner. As the pile of cards builds up in the receiver the platform 2 descends under the weight of the cards and the cards `delivered into the receiver in succession to the rst card so delivered are successively 'received on the upper surface of the uppermost card in the receiver.

As can be seen from the drawing, the receiver is completely open at one side as indicated by the reference numeral 5 and the opposite side of the receiver is slotted or otherwise formed to permit card displacing means to enter through that side of the container and engage the edge of a card in a manner to be described below. As the side 5 of the receiver is completely open, the card displacing means, which is shown in the drawing as a pusher 6, can move a card lengthwise so that it is displaced in relation to other cards which are contained in the receiver. In the present instance the apparatus is so constructed that on operation of the pusher 6 a card is moved lengthwise thereby for a distance of about one inch so that when a pack of cards is removed from the receiver any card which has been displaced by the pusher is clearly distinguished from the other cards which are relatively neatly stacked one above the other.

As a card is delivered into the top of the receiver it passes over movable means shown as a plate 1, which is in such a position that as the card falls into the receiver the leading endv is engaged by the front wall of the receiver and isguided downwards either on to the platform 2 or on the upper surface of the card immediately preceding the card being delivered to the receiver. The plate 1 protrudes into the receiver to. an extent such that it engages the under surface of the card being delivered into the receiver and impedes'the trailing end of the card so that this end cannot fall into the receiver and the cardv is tilted in the receiver about its leading edge as shown in the drawing. The card is retained in this tilted position by the plate 1 until the,v comparing mechanism has determined whether or not there is identity between the card so delivered to the receiver and the other card with which it is pairedV and which has been similarly delivered to a second receiver. If the comparing mechanism should determine that there is a lack of identity between the compared portions of the cards, the pusher 6 is operated to move the card lengthwise through the open side 5 of the receiver. The plate 1 is then moved rearwards out of the path of the trailing end of the card thus permitting the trailing endv to fall into the receiver. Conversely, of course, if the comparing apparatus determines that the compared portions of the cards are identical the pusher 6 is not operated but at the appropriate instant the plate 1 is moved rearwards to permit the trailing end of the card to fall into the receiver.

The plate 1 is mounted for reciprocation in a straight line path determined by guide elements 8 and 9 secured to the rear of the receiver and oscillation of the plate 1 is effected byv an arm I secured `to a rocking spindle Il mounted in bearings I2, I3, also secured to the rearof the receiver. The upper end of the arm I0 is provided with a slot I4 which engages a pin I5 securedV to the under side of the plate 1 and the rocking spindle I I is rocked at each machine cycle by a cam I6 secured to a driving shaft I1, the cam I6 co-operating with a roller IB carried by an arm I9 secured to the rocking spindle I I. A spring 20 tends to urge the plate 1 to its nonimpeding position.

The pusher 6 is secured to a rock shaft 2| mounted in bearings 22, 23, secured to the card receiver and also mounted in these bearings isV an intermediate spindle 24 which is connected with the rock shaft 2l by arms 25, 26 secured respectively to the rock shaft 2I and the intermediate spindle 24. The arm 25 is provided with a pin 21 which engages in a slot 28 formed in the end of the arm 26; Whenzthe intermedi-.- ate spindle 24 is moved angularly, the movement thereof is imparted through the arms 26, 25 to the rock shaft 2| so that, as viewed in Figure 1, the pusher 6 is rocked clockwise against the action of a spring -28 to effect displacement of a card in a direction transverse to that of its direction of movement into the receivers.

To one end of the intermediate spindle 24 is secured a bevel gear 29 which meshes with a similar bevel gear 30 secured to an operating spindle 3| mounted in bearings 32 fixed to the rear of the card receiver.

The opposite end of the operating spindle 3l has secured thereto an arm 33 which, when engaged by a pin 34 as will be described below, effects angular movement of the operating spindle 3l thereby operating the pusher 6.

The actuating means for the pusher 6 comprises, in addition to the mechanism just described, a rst plate 35 and a second plate 36, the plates being disposed in parallel planes for movement relative one to the other as will be described below. The plate 35 has two studs 31, 36 extending laterally therefrom, the studs projecting through slots 39, 46 respectively formed in the second plate 36 and extending lengthwise thereof. The stud 38 is engaged by a slot 4I formed in the end of one arm 42 of a bell-crank lever pivotedat 43 to the frame of the machine, the other arm 44 of the bell crank lever supporting a cam follower 45- which cooperates with a pusher-operating cam 46 secured to the driving shaft I1'. A spring 41 urges the first plate 35 t0 its inactive position.

The second plate 36 is provided with a driving pawl 46 pivotedl at 49 to the plate 36 and a latch 56 to co-operate with the pawl is pivoted at 5I to the plate 36. A spring 52 urges the pawl andthe latch towards each other. The latch and pawl, together with the stud 31, comprise a coupling which can be rendered active or inactive to permit or prevent the operation of the pusher 6, even though the first plate 35i is reciprocated lengthwise at each machine cycle through the operation of the pusher-operating cam, 46.

As shownin Figure 1, the coupling is in its active positionY and a nose 53` on the pawl' is hooked aroundv the stud 31.v As shown in Figure l, the first plate. 35 has already completed part. of. its forward movement soV that the stud is brought into engagement with the nose 5.3. of the-driving pawl 48 and a lobe 54v on the pusher-operating cam 46 causes the movement of. therstplate 35 to be continued so that as the stud 31 engages the driving Dawl-Y 48 the second plate 136v is movedY forward together withthe rst plate. During the forward movement of the second plate 36, the pin dengages the arm 36,Y and rocks it clockwise, thereby angularly moving the operating spindle 3l to eifect operation of the pusher 6.. On the return movementof the rst and second plates, under the action` of. springs 41 and 55, the second plate 36 is arrested by a stud 56.

As has been mentioned above, it is desiredto operate the pusher 6 only when a disagreement is detected between apair of compared cards and it is not therefore desired that the arm 335 be rocked at each cycle ofthe driving shaft I'I. Accordingly4 a trip member isk provided to render the coupling inactive, andthe trip member, as shownY inl the drawing, comprisesl a pin 51 extending; laterally from a; plate` 58 secured to alink'Y 59 the lower end of which is provided with a slot 5.0 by Whichfthe, linleii is yguided for vertical V,movement relative tti-the secondplate 36A by i the intermediate spindle 24 of the lower re- 45 6 placing means to engage and move a tilted card: transversely of its direction of movement to the receiver, actuating means for said card displacing means, said actuating means including a normally active coupling and a trip member controlled by a function of the machine to render the coupling inactive and thereby prevent operacarrying shaft 63.' The bail-carrying shaft 68 tion of the card displacing means, and means is rocked clockwise, as viewed in the drawing, operable in timed relation with said actuating each time an agreement is determined by the 10 means to effect movement of said movable means comparing mechanism but when disagreement is to a non-impeding position so that a tilted card detected substantially no angularmovement of is permitted to fall on to other cards in the rethe bail-carrying shaft occurs. Thus, on each ceiver. agreement, rocking of the bail-carrying shaft 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 68 causes the link B5 to be moved downward, 15 the movable means is mounted for reciprocation rocking the arm B2 about the stud 63 and in a straight line path by a link mechanism opcausing the link 59 also to be moved downwards erated by a cam mounted on a driving shaft so that the pin 51 engages the tail 69 of the, arranged also to operate the actuating means for driving pawl 48, rotating the pawl clockwise the card displacing means. about its pivot 49 and raising the nose 53 out of 20 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the the path of the stud 31, as shown in Figure 2. card displacing means comprises apusher mount- The clockwise movement of the pawl 48 brings ed for angular movement with a rock shaft and a tooth 1B formed thereon into engagement with the actuating means includes an intermediate a corresponding tooth 1I formed on the latch 50 spindle coupled to the rock shaft to eiect rockso that the pawl 48 is latched out of the path of 25 ing thereof, an operating spindle geared to the the stud 31 and the coupling between the first intermediate spindle, and a reciprocable driving plate 35 and the second plate 36 is rendered inacelement to elect angular movement of the opertive. Accordingly, when the iirst plate 35 is ating spindle, said driving element being opermoved forward by the pusher-operating cam 45, ated by a pusher-operating cam on said driving the studs 31 and 38 slide in the slots 39 and 4i) 30 shaft. so that relative movement between the plates 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein 35 and 36 is effected and no movement of the the reciprocable driving element comprises' a plate 36 occurs. As the plate 36 is not moved iirst and a second plate, the plates being disposed lengthwise with the plate 35, the pin 34 does not in parallel planes for movement relative one to engage and rock the arm 33 and accordingly the 35 the other, said iirst plate being arranged for pusher 6 is not actuated. positive reciprocation by said pusher-operating When the apparatus is employed in conjunccam during each cycle of the driving shaft, and tion with a comparing machine, two card rethe coupling arranged to couple the second plate ceivers disposed one above the other are employed to the first plate and when active causing an and on a disagreement each of the disagreeing 40 abutment on the second plate to engage an arm cards is moved lengthwise in its respective resecured to said operating spindle to effect anguceiver by a pusher i5. The movement of the lar movement of the rock shaft. pushers associated with the two magazines is 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein simultaneous and this is eiiected by connecting the COU-plintr comprises a Stud @Xtendilg laterally from the rst plate for movement in a slot in the second plate, a driving pawl and a latch pivotally mounted on the second plate to operate from opposite sides of the stud, the pawl and latch being spring-urged towards each other to a position at which the pawl is engaged by the stud to render the coupling active.

6. Apparatus according `to claim 5, wherein a trip member is operable to engage said pawl and move it about its pivot to a position at which it is moved out of the path of the stud and in which it is retained by said latch to render the coupling inactive. Y

7. The method of segregating selected cards in a card aligned stack comprising the steps of tilting each card with respect to the stack as it is fed thereto, transversely displacing selected cards out of stack alignment, and then releasing said tilted card to fall on to said stack.

8. In a statistical machine, a card receiver including a yieldable support upon which cards drop one at a time for stacking alignment, means for impeding the fall of a cardat one edge thereof to position the card in tilted position at the top of the stack, means for shifting some of the tilted cards out of alignment with the stack, and

means for moving said impeding means for releasing said tilted cards.

9. In a statistical machine the combination with a card receptacle into which cards `are.

dropped one at a time for aligned stacking on.

extending laterally from the plate 3B. The .opposite end of the link 59 is connected to an arm 62 pivoted on a stud B3 secured to a part of the machine frame as indicated at 64.

The arm 52 also has connected thereto oneend of a link t5, the opposite endof which is pivoted at t6 to an arm 61 secured to a bailceiver with a similar spindle associated with the other of the two receivers. The spindle 24 has an arm 12 secured thereto and to the arm 12 is connected one end of a link 13, the other end of which is connected with an arm, not shown, 50 secured to the intermediate spindle of the upper receiver. Thus, it will be understood, on rocking the intermediate spindle 24, the corresponding spindle associated with the other of the two receivers is also rocked and the two pushers 6 55 aresimultaneously operated.

The other of the two receivers is also provided with a plate similar to the plate 1 described above and this other plate is operated simultaneously with the plate 1. To this end, the said 60 other plate has connected thereto the upper end of a link 14, the lower end of which is connected at 15 to an arm 15 secured to the rocking spindle il. Accordingly, operation of the upper and lower plates 1 is simultaneously effected by the action of the cam i6.

We claim:

l. In a statistical machine, apparatus to receive record cards delivered in succession from the machine, said apparatus comprising a card receiver to receive cards delivered into the top thereof, movable means to impede the trailing end of each card delivered to the receiver and retain the card in tilted position about its leading edge for a predetermined interval, card dis- 7 yieldable support in the receptacle; of means for impeding the drop of a card at one edge thereof for support at the opposite edge in tilted position at the top of the stack, means for shifting selected cards out of stack alignment While they Y are held in tilted position and means for moving said impeding means to drop the cards from tilted position to a position on top of said stack.

10. In a statistical machine a plurality of card receptacles into which cards are dropped one at a time for aligned stacking, a yieldable card support in each receptacle, means in each receptacle for impeding the drop of a card at one edge thereof for support at the opposite edge in tilted position at the top of the stack, means associated with each magazine for shifting selected cards out of stack alignment While they are held in tilted position, means for moving each of said impeding means to drop the cards from tilted position to a position on top of the stack, means for connecting the impeding means of each magazine for operation in unison and means for connecting the shifting means of each '10 magazine for operation in unison.

ARTHUR THOMAS. FREDERICK SIDNEY RHODES.

No references cited. 

